1964 Doubled Die Obverse WDDO-009

Description

Identified by an elaborate network of die scratches that cover much of both surfaces, the 1964 WDDO-009 is among the more readily attributable doubled die obverse varieties for the date thanks to its distinctive die markers. On the obverse, crisscrossing and mostly vertical die scratches run throughout the fields, with a diagonal die scratch passing through the top left side of the B of LIBERTY, a horizontal die scratch well south of the T of LIBERTY, and a strong die scratch running south-southeast from the lower right side of the U of TRUST. The reverse carries equally diagnostic tooling marks: horizontal die scratches extend throughout the entire surface, diagonal die scratches run northeast-southwest through and below UNITED and through the first six Memorial columns, and strong horizontal die scratches pass through the last Memorial bay and toward the rim below the last A in AMERICA. These die scratches are tooling marks — traces of die preparation or polishing at the Philadelphia Mint that were impressed into the die steel and transferred as raised lines onto every coin struck from this die pair. For variety collectors, such extensive die markers are a welcome aid to attribution, providing multiple confirmation points beyond the doubled die obverse itself. The 1964 Philadelphia Mint produced 2,648,575,000 Lincoln cents, consuming thousands of obverse dies whose individual preparation left unique tooling signatures like these. Struck on a 95% copper, 5% tin-zinc planchet weighing 3.11 grams at 19mm diameter.

Die Markers

• Obverse: Crisscrossing and mostly vertical die scratches run throughout the fields of most of the obverse. A diagonal die scratch runs through the top left side of B of LIBERTY. A horizontal die scratch can be found well south of T of LIBERTY. A strong die scratch runs SSE from the lower right side of the U of TRUST. Reverse: Horizontal die scratches run throughout the entire reverse. Diagonal die scratches run NE/SW through and below UNITED and through the first six Memorial columns. Strong horizontal die scratch run through the last Memorial bay and toward the rim below the last A in AMERICA.

Attribution History

• Discovered by Wexler Team

External References